Title

Author

Year of Publication

2019

College

Public Health

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

Committee Chair

Dr. Richard Ingram

Committee Member

Dr. Sarah Wackerbarth

Committee Member

Dr. Joseph Benitez

Abstract

In 2015, a rural Indiana county experienced an outbreak of HIV related to intravenous drug use. 181 people were diagnosed with HIV between Oct. 1, 2014 and Nov. 1, 2015. This outbreak prompted the state legislature to implement a policy that legalized syringe exchange programs for the first time ever in Indiana. This capstone attempts to summarize the situation that led to the creation of this policy and the effects of this policy, Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 461 (IN SEA 461). Finally, this capstone makes recommendations for modifying the existing policy or implementing a similar policy in an area experiencing a public health threat like the one in Indiana.